Jack assembly

ABSTRACT

A JACK ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PLATFORM, A JACK STANDARD RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO THE PLATFORM AND EXTENDING VERTICALLY UPWARDLY THEREFROM, A LEVER-ACTUABLE LIFT FRAME ARRANGED FOR VERTICAL RECIPROCATION ON THE STANDARD, AND WHEEL MEANS FOR MOVABLY SUPPORTING THE PLATFORM. THE WHEEL MEANS ARE PREFERABLY ARRANGED YIELDINGLY TO SUPPORT THE BOTTOM OF THE PLATFORM SLIGHTLY ABOVE AND OUT OF CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE ON WHICH THE ASSEMBLY IS SUPPORTED. A FLEXIBLE LIFTING STRAP PROVIDING A PAIR OF SPACED APART HOOK-TYPE FINGERS FOR ENGAGING WORK IS PROVIDED FOR CONNECTION WITH THE LIFTING FRAME. A RIGID SLEEVE IS DISPOSED TELESCOPICALLY OVER THE UPPER END OF THE STANDARD TO REST DIRECTLY ON AN UPWARDLY AND HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING SURFACE PROVIDED BY THE LIFT FRAME, WHICH SURFACE EXTENDS ABOUT THE STANDARD.

p 20, 1971 c. P. HARRAH JACK ASSEMBLY Filed July 2, 1969 Rm W mo R m 5 S M E United States Patent US. Cl. 254-2B 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE jack assembly comprising a platform, a jack standard rigidly connected to the platform and extending vertically upwardly therefrom, a lever-actuable lift frame arranged for vertical reciprocation on the standard, and wheel means for movably supporting the platform. The wheel means are preferably arranged yieldingly to support the bottom of the platform slightly above and out of contact with the surface on which the assembly is supported. A flexible lifting strap providing a pair of spaced apart hook-type fingers for engaging work is provided for connection with the lifting frame. A rigid sleeve is disposed telescopically over the upper end of the standard to rest directly on an upwardly and horizontally extending surface provided by the lift frame, which surface extends about the standard.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide a jack assembly which is light in weight, extremely mobile, and capable of lifting weights of, for instance, seven thousand pounds. My jack assembly, which preferably weighs ap proximately 50 pounds, includes wheel means arranged yieldably to support its base platform slightly above and out of contact with a floor or base surface. When a predetermined downwardly directed load is applied to the platform, the bottom of the platform rests directly on such a surface.

My jack assembly is extremely versatile. It can be used, with its flexible lifting strap, as a bumper jack for all types of automobiles. Further, it can be used, with its lifting sleeve or tube, to push upwardly on a device disposed, for instance, seven feet above the floor on which the jack assembly is supported.

My preferred jack assembly comprises a platform providing a bottom, a jack standard rigidly connected to the platform and extending vertically upwardly therefrom, a lever-actuable lift frame arranged for vertical reciprocation on the standard, and wheel means for movably supporting the platform on a surface, such as a concrete floor of a garage. The wheel means are preferably arranged yieldingly to support the bottom of the platform slightly above and out of contact with such a surface so that, when a predetermined downwardly directed load is applied to the platform, the bottom will rest directly on the surface. It will be appreciated, therefore, that my jack assembly, in an unloaded condition, can be easily moved into position for performing a lifting operation. As soon as the jack is used to initiate the lift, the lifting force will be effective to push the bottom of the platform against the floor to provide a secure base from which to lift.

In order to lift all types of automobiles, I have provided a unique flexible lifting strap having a first end and a second end. The first end of this strap is provided with means for engaging the lifting hook provided by the lift frame of the jack assembly. The second end of the strap is provided with a pair of laterally spaced apart and downwardly extending fingers, the distal end of each finger being provided with a forwardly and upwardly turned hook portion. I have found that my laterally spaced apart, hooktype fingers provide a more secure engagement with certain types of automobile bumpers than has heretofore been achieved with a single hook. The conventional flexible straps with which I am familiar include a single hook for engaging and pulling upwardly on a bumper.

My preferred jack assembly also includes a rigid sleeve telescopically receiving the upper portion of the jack standard, the sleeve resting directly on an upwardly and horizontally extending surface of the lift frame. My sleeve and lift frame are constructed so that any downwardly directed forces applied to the sleeve are applied along the vertically extending axis of the standard. My sleeve and standard are constructed so that there is no tendency for the sleeve to rotate or rock about the vertical axis provided by the standard. The importance of this feature, from a safety standpoint, will be appreciated as this description progresses.

Other objects and features of my invention will become apparent as this description progresses.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the manner described in the following specification, attention being called to the fact, however, that the specific structure described is by way of illustration only and that changes may be made therein, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of my jack assembly;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of my jack assembly;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lifting strap of my invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, partially sectioned, elevational view of the lifting tube or sleeve of my invention; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken from FIG. 4 generally along the lines 5--5.

Referring now to the dawings, it will be seen that I have illustrated my jack assembly 10 as comprising a platform 12 on which a conventional jack standard 14 is mounted. The jack standard is connected to the platform as indicated at 16 to extend vertically upwardly therefrom.

In FIG. 1, I show my jack assembly 10 on a floor or surface as indicated at 18, the bottom 20 of the platform 12 being supported just slightly above the floor 18. I provide wheel means for movably supporting the platform 12, the wheel means being arranged yieldingly to support the bottom 20 slightly above and out of contact with the floor 18 when the jack assembly 10 is in unloaded condition. When a predetermined load is applied to the platform 12, the wheel means give to permit the bottom 20 of the platform to rest directly on the floor 18.

In the illustrative embodiment, my wheel means comprise a pair of pneumatic or semi-pneumatic wheels 22, 24 disposed at opposite sides of the platform 12 adjacent its rear edge, each wheel 22, 24 being journal mounted on an axle bolt 28. In this description and in the claims appended hereto, the terms pneumatic and semipneumatic are to be treated synonymously. It will be appreciated that the axle bolts 28 are merely illustrative and that any number of types of axle means may be used to journal mount the wheels 22, 24. The internal pressure of the wheels 22, 24 is such that, when the jack assembly 10 is in an unloaded condition, the bottom 20 of the platform 12 is held just slightly above and out of contact with the floor 18. This is best seen in FIG. 1. The structures of pneumatic wheels are well known and need not be discussed, in detail, in this description.

My preferred wheel means also includes a caster 26 which is conventionally swivelly mounted on the forward end of a member 30, the rear end of which is connected to the forward portion of the platform 12 by a fastening element 32. The fastening element 32 is arranged so that the member 30 can move slightly upwardly relative to the platform 12 and, therefore, I have provided another fastening element 34 and a spring 36 arranged yieldably to urge the member 30 downwardly against the upper surface of the platform 12 to hold the bottom of the platform slightly above and out of contact with the floor 18. The fastening element 34 may be a conventional bolt penetrating a through opening in the member and threadedly engaging either a threaded hole in the platform 12 or a conventional nut disposed below the upper surface of theplatform 12. The spring 36 may be a conventional coiled compression spring. The fastening element 32, the fastening element 34 and the spring 36 comprise means for yieldingly connecting the caster 26 or, more specifically, the member 30 on which the caster is mounted, to the forward portion of the platform 12.

When a predetermined downwardly directed load is applied to the platform 12, the wheels 22, 24 and the spring 36 give to permit the bottom 20 of the platform 12 to rest directly on the floor 18. It will be appreciated that this direct engagement of the bottom 20 with the floor 18 provides a stable base from which something, such as an automobile, may be lifted. In FIG. 1, I have illustrated in, phantom, an automobile bumper B. When the platform 12 is rolled under the bumper B and the lift frame is connected to the bumper as illustrated, as soon as an upwardly directed force is applied to the bumper, a downwardly directed force is, of course, applied to the platform 12. I prefer that the bottom 20 of the platform 12 be held out of contact with the floor 18 until a downwardly directed force, in addition to the weight of the jack assembly and its accessories, is applied to the platform 12.

My preferred platform 12 is an inverted, eight-inch steel channel member which is twenty-two inches long. The side flanges of this channel member are indicated at 38. The bottom 20, therefore, is defined by the lower edges of these flanges 38.

I also prefer that the standard 14 be securely welded to the upper surface of the platform 12. Thus, the connection indicated at 16 is a welded connection and includes a pair of brackets 40, 42 disposed on opposite sides of the standard 14, each bracket being Welded to the platform as well as to the standard.

I prefer to use a conventional jack standard 14 which is provided with longitudinally equally spaced apart lug openings 44. I then use a conventional lever-actuable lift frame 46 which is mounted on the standard for vertical reciprocation. The frame 46 provides a forwardly projecting lifting hook 48. A lever 58 is conventionally operatively connected to the lift frame 46. The structure of such lift frames is conventional and need not be discussed, in detail, in this description.

The particular lift frame 46 which I use is provided with an upwardly facing, generally horizontal surface 52 extending about the standard 14.

I provide a rigid lifting sleeve 54 which telescopically receives the upper portion of the standard 14, the lifting sleeve having a lower end 56 and an upper end 58. The lower end 56 of the lifting sleeve 54 is formed to provide a downwardly facing, generally horizontal surface extending about the standard 14 and uniformly contacting the upwardly facing surface 52 as best seen in FIG. 4. The lifting sleeve 54, thus, rests directly on the lift frame 46 in such a manner as not to apply any forces tending to twist or to cock the lift frame on the standard 14. A force applied vertically downwardly on the upper end 58 of the sleeve 54 will be directed vertically downwardly against the lift frame 46 and through the center of the lift frame. This manner of directing the forces applied to the lifting sleeve 54 to the lift frame 46 will signifi cantly increase its wear life as well as significantly decrease the possibility of the lift frame binding or malfunctioning when the lifting sleeve 54 is being used.

My preferred lifting sleeve 54 is rectangular in crosssection as best seen in FIG. 5. Specifically, I prefer that the jack standard 14 provide a pair of oppositely facing,

parallel and vertically extending outer surfaces 62, 64 and that the sleeve 54 provide a pair of oppositely facing, parallel and vertically extending inner surfaces 66, 68, the inner surfaces facing, respectively, the outer surfaces as illustrated in FIG. 5. The spacing between each inner surface 66, 68 and its facing outer surface 62, 64 is such that the inner surfaces cannot move significantly out of parallelism with the outer surfaces. Therefore, because of the facing relationship of the surfaces 62, 64 and 66, 68, my lifting sleeve 54 will not twist or move about a vertically extending axis defined by the standard 14. I prefer that the sleeve 54 be proportioned and designed loosely and telescopically to receive the standard 14 with clearances as suggested in FIG. 5 which is not to scale. I prefer to have the standard 14 constructed to be 2 inches wide with a V; inch flange and a inch web through which the holes 44 are provided. I prefer that the sleeve 54 have outside dimensions of 2 /2. inches by 1%. inches. The prevention of twisting motion of the sleeve 54 relative to the standard 14 does not require direct bearing contact between the surfaces 62, 64 and 66, 68.

I prefer to provide a socket 70 on the upper end 58 of the sleeve 54, the socket, in the illustrative embodiment, including a rigid member 72 welded directly to the sleeve and formed symmetrically to extend outwardly and upwardly from each side of a vertical plane extending through the center of the standard 14 and parallel to its outer surfaces 62, 64. The member 72 is preferably formed to provide an upwardly facing generally horizontal engaging surface 74 which is at least as large as and in vertical registry with the upwardly facing surface 52.

The socket 70 is proportioned and designed to engage an axle of an automobile which is already lifted on a conventional hoist to raise the axle relative to the hoist. The member 72 is formed so that the weight of the axle will be applied to the upper surface 74 and, therefore, vertically against the upper surface 52 of the lift frame 46.

I prefer that the length of the standard 14 and the lifting sleeve 54 be such that the socket 70 can be used to engage and lift an item, such as an axle, which is disposed, for instance, seven feet above the floor level indicated at 18.

In order to prevent movement of the lift frame 46 above a predetermined height on the standard 14 when the sleeve 54 is being used, I prefer to extend a stop means through a lug opening 44 at a selected height on the standard 14. In FIG. 5, I show a bolt 76, washer 78, and nut with the shank of the bolt extending through an opening 44 to provide means for stopping the lift frame 46 at such an opening. It will be appreciated that any number of means may be placed on the standard 14 to prevent movement of the lift fratrne 46 above a specific point on the standard. I

For the purpose of supporting the lever 50 and holding it against the standard 14 when the lift frame 46 is in its lowermost position, I have provided a small chain 82 formed in a loop to extend through one of the openings 44 as'illustrated in FIG. -1. This chain, is mounted about 8 inches from the top of standard 14 and immediately above the bolt 76, the chain being of such a size that it will fit between the standard 14 and the sleeve 54.

Further, I provide a safety pin 83 which is connected to the lift frame 46 by a chain 84 and which can be used to prevent downward movement of the lift frame. Specifically, after the lift frame is raised to a desired height, the pin 83 can be placed in a lug opening 44 to act as a stop preventing downward movement of the lift frame 46.

My assembly also includes a flexible lifting strap 88 having a first end 90 and a second end 92. The first end 90 is provided with means 94 for engaging the lifting hook 48 and the second end 92 is provided with a pair of later ally spaced apart and downwardly extending fingers 96, the distal end of each finger being provided with a forwardly and upwardly turned hook portion 98. In the illustrative embodiment, the means 94 is a trapegoidally shaped metal loop for receiving and engaging the forwardly extending lifting hook '48. Further, in the illustrative embodiment, the fingers 96, are provided by forming a metal rod to have a straight central portion 100" from each end of which extends a finger.

The lifting strap 88 ma'y be assembled by forming a fiat strap of material and sewing it as indicated at 102 to provide a loop at the first end 90 securing the means 94 and forming and sewing the strap as indicated at 104 to provide another loop receiving the central portion 100 of the rod providing the fingers 96. I prefer that the strap material be folded and sewn so as to provide another loop 106 for securing another means 108 for engaging the lifting hook 48, this means 108 being disposed intermediate the ends 90, 92 of the lifting strap. The means (108 may be identical to the means 90.

When the lifting strap 88 is to be used with a smaller burnper, the means 108 is engaged with the lifting hook 48. When the strap 88 is to be used with a larger bumper, such as illustrated in FIG. 1, the means 94 is engaged with the lifting hook 48. By providing the two means 94, 108, I can select the effective length of the lifting strap 88. I prefer that the length of the lifting strap 88 be approximately ten inches and that the distance between the end 92 and the loop 106 securing the means 108 be approximately five and one-half inches.

When the strap 88 is used with smaller bumpers, the means 108 is engaged with the lifting hook so that the lift frame can start lifting from the lowest possible posi tion on the standard 14. This feature is, of course, conducive to safety. When the lifting strap 88 is used with a larger bumper, such as indicated at B in FIG. 1, the means 94 is engaged with the lifting hook 48.

I have found that the two laterally spaced apart, hooktype fingers 96 will permit the engagement of any type of automobile bumper. The fingers 96 are approximately two and one-half inches apart.

To prevent an overload and damage to the lift frame 46, I have installed a shear pin 86 in the lift frame mechanism. This shear pin 86 has sufficient carbon content to shear when the load on the lift frame exceeds a predetermined figure.

What is claimed is:

1. A jack assembly comprising a platform providing a bottom, a jack standard rigidly connected to said platform and extending vertically upwardly therefrom, said standard being rigid and self supporting and connected to said platform only at and by its base, a lever-actuable lift frame arranged for vertical reciprocation on said standard, said lift frame providing a forwardly projecting lifting hook, and wheel means for movably supporting said platform on a surface, said wheel means being arranged yieldingly to support said bottom slightly above and out of contact with such a surface so that, when a predetermined downwardly directed load is applied to said platform, said bottom will rest directly on such a surface.

*2. The assembly of claim 1 including a flexible lifting strap having first and second ends, said first end being provided with means for engaging said lifting hook, and said second end being provided with a pair of laterally spaced apart and downwardly extending fingers, the distal end of each finger being provided with a forwardly and upwardly turned hook portion.

3. The assembly of claim 2 in which said lifting strap is provided, intermediate its ends, with second means for engaging said lifting hook to provide means for shortening the effective length of said strap.

4. The assembly of claim .1 in which said lift frame provides an upwardly facing, generally horizontal surface extending about said standard, and including a rigid sleeve telescopically receiving the upper portion of said standard, said sleeve having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of said sleeve providing a downwardly facing generally horizontal surface extending about said standard and uniformly contacting and resting upon said upwardly facing surface provided by said lift frame, said sleeve being vertically movable relative to said lift frame.

5. The assembly of claim 4 in which said standard is provided with a pair of oppositely facing, parallel and vertically extending outer surfaces and in which said sleeve is provided with a pair of oppositely facing, parallel and vertically extending inner surfaces, said inner surfaces facing, respectively, said outer surfaces, and the spacing between each inner surface and its facing outer surface being such that said inner surfaces cannot move significantly out of parallelism with said outer surfaces.

. 6. The assembly of claim 5 including means providing a socket on the upper end of said sleeve, said socket providing means including a rigid member formed symmetrically to extend outwardly and upwardly from each side of a vertical plane extending through the center of said standard and parallel to its said outer surfaces, the member providing an upwardly facing, generally horizontal engaging surface which is at least as large as and in vertical registry with the upwardly facing surface provided by said lift frame.

7. The assembly of claim 1 in which said wheel means includes pneumatic wheels, the internal pressure of which is sufficient to hold said bottom out of contact with such a surface until such a predetermined load is applied.

8. The assembly of claim 1 in which said wheel means includes a pair of side wheels disposed adjacent the rear of said plaftorm and a caster disposed adjacent the front of said platform, and yieldable means connecting said caster to said platform.

9. The assembly of claim 1 in which said wheel means includes a pair of wheels disposed adjacent the rear of said platform and on opposite sides thereof and a caster disposed adjacent the front of said platform, a member extending forwardly from said platform, said caster being connected to the forward end of said member, and yieldable means connecting the rear end of said member to said platform, said wheels being pneumatic wheels, the internal pressure of said wheels and said yieldable means being effective to hold said bottom out of contact with such a surface until such a predetermined load is applied.

10. The assembly of claim 4 in which said standard is provided with conventional, longitudinally spaced apart lug openings, and including stop means extending through one of said openings to limit the upward movement of said lift frame.

11. The assembly of claim 6 in which said Wheel means includes a pair of wheels disposed adjacent the rear of said platform and on opposite sides thereof and a caster disposed adjacent the front of said platform, a member extending forwardly from said platform, said caster being connected to the forward end of said member, and yieldable means connecting the rear end of said member to said platform, said wheels being pneumatic wheels, the internal pressure of said wheels and said yieldable means being effective to hold said bottom out of contact with such a surface until such a predetermined load is applied.

:12. The assembly of claim .11 including a flexible lifting,

strap having first and second ends, said first end being provided with means for engaging said lifting hook, and said second end being provided with a pair of laterally spaced apart and downwardly extending fingers, the distal end of each finger being provided with a. forwardly and upwardly turned hook portion.

13. A jack assembly comprising a platform providing a bottom, a vertically lifting jack mechanism mounted on said platform and wheel means for movably supporting said platform on a surface, said wheel means being arranged yieldingly to support said bottom slightly above and out of contact with such a surface so that, when a predetermined downwardly directed load is applied to said platform, said bottom will rest directly on such a surface, said wheel means including pneumatic wheels, the internal pressure of which is sufficient to hold said bottom out of contact with such a surface until such a predetermined load is applied.

14. The jack assembly of claim 13 in which said Wheel means includes a pair of pneumatic side wheels disposed adjacent the rear of said platform and a caster disposed adjacent the front of said platform, and yieldable means connecting said caster to said platform.

15. A jack assembly comprising a lifting hook arranged for generally vertical reciprocation and a flexible lifting strap having first and second ends, said first end being provided with means for receiving and engaging said lifting hook, and said second end being provided with a pair of laterally spaced apart and downwardly extending fingers, the distal end of each finger being provided with a forwardly and upwardly turned hook portion.

16. A jack assembly comprising a vertically extending standard, a lift frame arranged for vertical reciprocation on said standard, said lift frame providing an upwardly facing generally horizontal surface extending about said standard, and a rigid sleeve telescopically receiving the upper portion of said standard, said sleeve having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of said sleeve providing a. downwardly facing generally horizontal surface extending about said standard and uniformly contacting and resting on said upwardly facing surface provided by said lift frame, said standard being provided with a pair of oppositely facing, parallel and vertically extending outer surfaces and said sleeve being provided with a pair of oppositely facing, parallel and vertically extending inner surfaces, said inner surfaces facing, respectively, said outer surfaces, and the spacing between each inner surface and its facing outer surface being such that said inner surfaces cannot move significantly out of parallelism with said outer surfaces.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,583,945 1/1952 Jacobs 254l08 2,891,765 6/1959 Pearne 2'542 3,266,773 8/1966 Cole 254l33X 3,313,523 4/1967 Reynolds 254133 3,286,986 11/1966 Blankenship 254-6 ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner D. R. MELTO'N, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 254l08 

